It is incredible because, yes, there was a war that lasted 335 years, in which no one died, and everyone forgot about.
Even more amazing was that this 335 years’ war was fought between the Isles of Scilly, yes, those little islands off the end of Cornwall, and the Republic of the Netherlands! It lasted from the 30 March 1651 until 17 April 1986, why? All because everyone forgot that they were still at war!
That is how it stayed until 1985, when a local Scilly historian, Roy Duncan, wrote to the Dutch Embassy in London. His letter asked if the ridiculous claim that after 335 years the Isles of Silly was still at war with Holland, was true.
The cynical Embassy sent a clerk to search their archives. They got a surprise. You see this clerk found a series of documents that suggested that the Netherlands and the Islands were, indeed, still at war!
Once Duncan was told that, yes, the Dutch were still at war with the Islands, he invited the Dutch ambassador, Rein Huydecoper, to come to the islands and sign a peace treaty. This he did on the 17th of April 1986 when the peace treaty between the Isles of Scilly and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, was finally signed, after 335 years!
So how come everyone forgot this?
It was the time of the Civil War
The Civil War was fought between the Royalists, supporters of King Charles I, and the Parliamentarians led by Oliver Cromwell. Eventually, by 1648, Oliver Cromwell controlled the whole country and had forced the Royalist Navy to retreat to the Isles of Scilly. The Scilly Islands, just off the tip of Cornwall, were at that time owned by a Royalist, John Granville.
How did the Dutch get involved?
The Dutch were supporting the Parliamentarians, as they wanted to maintain their friendly relations with England and saw the Parliamentarians as most likely to win.
At the same time, the Dutch merchant navy were suffering heavy losses from the Royalist fleet that was based in the Scilly Isles. On 30 March 1651 the Dutch Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Tromp arrived in Scilly to demand reparation for the Dutch ships and goods they had taken.
According to Whitelocke’s Memorials, a letter of 17 April 1651 explains: “Tromp came to Pendennis and related that he had been to Scilly to demand reparation for the Dutch ships and goods taken by them; and receiving no satisfactory answer, he had, according to his Commission, declared war on them.”
Now, we get to the interesting bit. Would you believe that the reason they only declared war on the Isles of Scilly was because they didn’t want to offend the Parliamentarians.
The Royalist Surrender
In June that same year Oliver Cromwell’s forces, under Admiral Robert Blake, forced the Royalist fleet to surrender.
Is it true?
Yes, it is, however, there is a dispute as to whether Admiral Trump actually had the authority to declare war. It appears that he was instructed only to use a show of force, threats and even by violence to seek reparation for Royalist piracy.
Why was there no Peace?
When three months later the Royalist fleet surrendered to Admiral Robert Black, the Dutch fleet sailed home, forgetting to declare peace!
Therefore, technically it was only on 17 April 1986 that those on the Island could sleep safety in their beds. In fact, the Ambassador was heard to remark “It must have been awful to know we could have attacked at any moment.”
Isn’t History fun!
10 questions to discuss:
- How long did the war between the Isles of Scilly and the Netherlands last?
- When did the war officially end?
- Who initiated the inquiry about the ongoing war between the Isles of Scilly and the Netherlands?
- What was the occupation of the Isles of Scilly’s owner during the time of the Civil War?
- Why did the Dutch get involved in the conflict between the Isles of Scilly and England?
- What event triggered the Dutch declaration of war on the Isles of Scilly?
- Who led the Dutch fleet to demand reparation from the Isles of Scilly?
- Why did the Dutch only declare war on the Isles of Scilly and not on England during the Civil War?
- What happened in June of the same year the Dutch declared war on the Isles of Scilly?
- What led to the delay in declaring peace between the Isles of Scilly and the Netherlands after the Royalist surrender?
For more on this amazing event click on:
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-335-Year-War-the-Longest-War-in-History/
https://wtffunfact.com/wtf-fun-fact-13046-the-three-hundred-and-thirty-five-years-war/
http://www.1066.co.nz/Mosaic%20DVD/whoswho/text/Three_Hundred_and_Thirty_Five_Years_War[1].htm
©Tony Dalton